February 25, 2012 7:16pm ESTFebruary 25, 2012 9:48am ESTNow that Ryan Braun has won his appeal, much of the focus in the case is on the man who collected his urine sample and kept it for 44 hours.

Staff report

Published on Feb. 25, 2012

Feb. 25, 2012

During his news conference Friday to discuss his successful appeal of his 50-game suspension, Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun stopped just short of accusing the person who collected his urine sample of tampering with it.

The feeling is that Braun won his appeal because proper protocols weren’t followed in terms of the collection and delivery of the sample. Major League Baseball’s drug program calls for the sample to be collected and shipped on the same day, but Braun’s sample reportedly remained in the possession of the collector for 44 hours.

There has been speculation that the collector, who received the sample at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, didn’t realize FedEx still was open. However, Braun noted Friday that there were multiple FedEx locations in the Miller Park area open until 9 p.m. and another that was a 24-hour location.

"Why he didn't bring it in, I don't know," Braun said Friday.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has identified the collector as Dino I. Laurenzi Jr., the director of rehabilitation services for United Hospital System. However, attempts to speak to him were unsuccessful.

The Washington Post also identified Laurenzi as the collector and spoke to his father. Laurenzi Sr. defended his son, saying, “He's a straight shooter. Never been in trouble.” He also said any accusations against his son "would be unfounded."

ESPN reported Braun failed a random drug test in October because of alarmingly high levels of testosterone, resulting in a 50-game suspension. Once the story leaked, Braun immediately declared he was innocent. He formally appealed the suspension in January, and it was announced Thursday afternoon that he won the appeal. By doing so, Braun became the first known major league to ever win an appeal for a positive drug test.